2WD, RWD in the snow
Growing up in Florida, I mostly had to deal with thunderstorms and torrential rainfall in winter instead of snow. Last year I moved to New Hampshire in the winter and got snow tires for my 2005 Tundra. I rarely had to drive in snow or unplowed roads (New Hampshire, you’re awesome), but now I’m looking to move out west (while considering covid 19 guidelines). How will driving in snow in Utah compare to northeast snow driving. I’m definitely nervous, especially growing up without practicing with it. Should I take a class? How dangerous is it really? Should I get chains or socks?
Answers ( 1 )
The biggest difference in snow between the east and west is that the snow in the northeastern states is wet snow, the snow in the western states tends to be dry and powdery. Yes, there is a difference in driving. Ultimately the bottom line is to go slow, drive slowly and be sure to leave a lot more time to allow yourself to get somewhere. But also know that a significant difference is also in the drivers. Easterners know how to drive in snow, they often have a lifetime of experience and it shows. Westerners tend to drive faster and less cautiously, and because some roads are open more and wider, Westerners also tend to drive faster. Now it's not necessarily true across the board, but as a woman who spent most of her life driving out west, going back east I always had to slow down. And particularly with California drivers, they don't slow down in the rain, and that's dangerous, so watch out for that. I can't say specific to Utah, because I've only driven through, but just to be advised that California drivers have populated all the western states, so you watch for faster drivers in weather, and steer clear of them.
On a funny note, when I started making road trips throughout the US, after living in California for most of my life, and coming from back East originally, I'd forgotten how to drive in weather, and coming up through Utah the first time I ran into a monster storm, stopped at a rest area for awhile freaked out as I was - hadn't driven in weather for a long time. And I was pretty frightened, wind blowing hard and snowy conditions. And a truck driver who'd been behind me gave sound advice, just keep both hands on the wheel, take it slow, and don't forget to breathe.